handpick

American  

[hand-pik] / ˈhændˈpɪk /

verb (used with object)

1. to pick by hand.

2. to select personally and with care.

   The boss handpicked his assistants.

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Etymology

Origin of handpick

First recorded in 1825–35; hand + pick ¹

Example Sentences

At Bell Labs, Kelly would sometimes handpick teams and create such a mix, as was the case for the transistor invention in the late 1940s.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Raiders were so putrid this season that they now own the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, giving the NFL’s most successful quarterback the chance to handpick a franchise quarterback of his own.

From The Wall Street Journal

Other companies handpick the investors to whom they sell new shares or allow to purchase stock from employees.

From The Wall Street Journal

There’s an undeniable charm in seeing Parker, alongside chef Dana Rodriguez — brought on to rescue Casa Bonita from its reputation of freezer-burned enchiladas — travel to Oaxaca to handpick décor or reimagine the restaurant’s animatronics.

From Salon

"This way, we do not have to handpick which groups should be emphasized. It's all automated based on which groups make up that middle slice of data."

From Science Daily

Related Words

• pick